It’s the AFC’s world; we’re all just living in it. PFN announced its NFL Top 100 player list, and unsurprisingly, the top three players and six of the top 10 are all from the AFC.
Familiar names such as Patrick Mahomes, Myles Garrett, and Tyreek Hill headline the top 100 for the red brand. Find out which other All-Pros and top stars made the list for the AFC.
AFC Selections in the PFN NFL Top 100
1) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (1st Overall)
Already considered one of the best players in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes is the top player in the league heading into 2024.
A three-time Super Bowl winner and two-time league MVP through six NFL campaigns, Mahomes has a path to becoming the greatest player in the NFL’s record books. Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid are on the verge of creating the league’s next indelible dynasty with the Kansas City Chiefs.
2) Myles Garrett, EDGE, Cleveland Browns (2nd Overall)
Although he’d somehow never received a single vote for Defensive Player of the Year until 2022, Myles Garrett walked away with the award after serving as the best player on the NFL’s best defense in 2023.
Garrett put up 14 sacks (tied for seventh-most in the league), 30 QB hits, and 89 total pressures, while consistently facing double teams, chip help, and other forms of attention from opposing offenses. He’s virtually unblockable and remains the game’s top defender heading into the 2024 campaign.
3) Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (3rd Overall)
Lamar Jackson became just the 11th NFL player to win multiple MVP awards after an electric 2023 campaign in which he appeared more comfortable as a passer than he had in several seasons. He ranked third in adjusted net yards per attempt (7.34) and fourth in QBR, punctuating his outstanding season-long performance with a five-TD outing against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.
Jackson flourished as a pocket quarterback but was still a threat on the ground, finishing with 200+ more rushing yards than any other signal-caller. Among QBs, he ranked second in rushing success rate and third in rushing first downs.
4) Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins (7th Overall)
Tyreek Hill led the NFL in receiving yards (1,799) and receiving TDs (13) and finished second in receptions (119), all while running just the 41st-most routes of any wide receiver. His efficiency was astounding, as his 3.85 yards per route run mark blew the modern record out of the water.
If there’s a defining image from the 2023 NFL campaign, it might be Hill streaking down the field, blowing past every defender for a score.
5) T.J. Watt, EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers (8th Overall)
One of the NFL’s most dependable players, T.J. Watt led the league in sacks in 2020, 2021, and 2023, only failing in 2022 while missing seven games due to an injury. He took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 after posting 22.5 sacks to tie Michael Strahan’s single-season record.
A constant, unceasing threat from the edge, Watt is the most talented player on a star-studded Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
6) Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders (9th Overall)
Availability is the best ability, but talent is helpful, too. Luckily for the Las Vegas Raiders, Maxx Crosby offers both in spades. He was the only defensive lineman to play over 1,000 snaps in 2023, leading DL in playtime for the second consecutive season.
Crosby is dynamite against the run and finished fourth among edge rushers with 86 pressures.
7) Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (11th Overall)
Sixteen NFL QBs have posted at least 2,000 dropbacks over the past four years. While there’s a significant gap between Mahomes and Josh Allen (0.215) in EPA per dropback during that span, there’s another enormous chasm between Allen at No. 2 and the rest of the league.
Allen doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring or much personal hardware to speak of, but he’s been among the league’s best signal-callers since the decade began.
8) Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (12th Overall)
While injuries marred Joe Burrow’s rookie campaign and the 2023 season, the Cincinnati Bengals were a few plays away from winning the Super Bowl in 2021 and advanced to the AFC title game in 2022.
Burrow was utterly dominant in those two seasons. From 2021 to 2022, he led the NFL in touchdown rate (6.1%), ranked second in EPA + CPOE composite (0.143), and finished third in adjusted net yards per pass attempt (7.12).
9) Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (16th Overall)
Chris Jones occupied two blockers a whopping 73% of the time, the highest rate in the league. With offensive linemen focused on Jones, other Chiefs pass rushers like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Charles Omenihu were able to reach opposing QBs.
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Of course, Jones did alright for himself, posting 10.5 sacks in 16 games. His 42 sacks and 103 QB hits over the last four years rank first among defensive tackles.
Jones might have a better shot of winning a Defensive Player of the Year award now that Aaron Donald is out of the league.
10) Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (17th Overall)
Ja’Marr Chase has been everything the Bengals hoped for and more since entering the league in 2021. He’s tied for second in receiving touchdowns (29) and ranks seventh in receiving yards (3,717) during that span and should become one of the league’s highest-paid WRs on his next contract.
Only five receivers — including Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, and Odell Beckham Jr. — scored more touchdowns than Chase over their first three pro seasons.
11) Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets (20th Overall)
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only three defenders have earned first-team All-Pro nods in each of their first two seasons: Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, Parsons, and Sauce Gardner, who’s on an early Hall of Fame track with the New York Jets.
NFL quarterbacks were terrified to throw at Gardner last year. In 2023, he was the only cornerback to start at least 14 games and receive fewer than 60 targets. Gardner only saw 55 targets in his coverage area last season as QBs avoided the former No. 4 overall pick’s zone. He’s broken up 31 pass attempts through two NFL campaigns while allowing just two touchdowns.
12) Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (21st Overall)
Although Travis Kelce couldn’t match his 2022 statistics last year, he still ranked second among tight ends in yardage (984), third in receptions (93), and scored five touchdowns, continuing to add to his Hall of Fame résumé in his age-34 campaign.
Kelce’s unparalleled connection with Mahomes and his ability to find open space make him the NFL’s top tight end entering 2024.
13) Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (25th Overall)
Davante Adams is still the best route runner in the game, and his release package is unparalleled. He earned three consecutive first-team All-Pro nods to begin the decade, but his production took a hit in 2023 (mainly due to the Raiders’ QB play).
He’s posted at least 100 catches and 1,000 yards in five of the last six years, including four straight. While Vegas’ quarterback situation didn’t improve this offseason, Adams should continue to receive plenty of opportunities. In 2023, he ranked first league-wide in air yards share (44.2%) and second in target share (33.1%).
14) Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens (27th Overall)
Kyle Hamilton joined Winfield as a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and displays the same sort of versatility as the Buccaneers safety. Hamilton played 465 snaps in the slot, 301 as a free safety, and 236 in the box, contributing in just about every phase of the game.
The Notre Dame product is an eraser in coverage who can keep up with all types of opposing pass catchers. But Hamilton also posted three sacks and 14 pressures despite rushing the passer fewer than 40 times.
15) Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens (29th Overall)
Roquan Smith’s arrival in October 2022 redefined the Baltimore Ravens’ defense over the past year-plus, allowing the group to become one of the most dominant units in the NFL. He’s physical in the run game and can shed blockers as well as any linebacker.
Thanks to his outstanding football intelligence, Smith is also a savant at reading route combinations and disrupting passing lanes.
16) Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets (31st Overall)
Quinnen Williams managed just 5.5 sacks in 2023 after putting up 12 in 2022, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story. He finished second behind Donald and Jones in interior pressures and ranked eighth among DTs in pass-rush win rate.
Williams simply got unlucky when converting that pressure into sack production.
17) Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos (33rd Overall)
Patrick Surtain II wasn’t quite as dominant in 2023 as he was in his 2022 All-Pro season, but that’s the life of an NFL cornerback — even an elite one. The Denver Broncos’ defense was a disaster early last year, and Surtain’s coverage numbers dipped during that stretch. Still, he’s typically as reliable as any corner in the league.
While he was mentioned as a speculative trade candidate as the Broncos pursued a rookie QB, Surtain was too valuable for Sean Payton to give up. He should rebound in 2024 if the rest of Denver’s defense plays up to par. Surtain’s perfect technique lets him cover any receiver in the NFL.
18) C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans (35th Overall)
C.J. Stroud could hardly have been more impressive in his 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. The No. 2 overall pick led the NFL in passing yards per game (273.9) and interception rate (1%), showing a rare blend of aggressiveness and patience while looking like a 10-year veteran under center and becoming the youngest NFL quarterback to win a playoff game.
19) Jalen Ramsey, CB, Miami Dolphins (36th Overall)
While the Los Angeles Rams asked Jalen Ramsey to do a little bit of everything, he played almost exclusively on the boundary after being traded to the Dolphins in 2023. Ramsey tore his meniscus in training camp but returned in Week 8, mainly looking like the same elite CB we’d seen in years past.
Ramsey allowed just a 53.8% completion rate and 51.1 passer rating after coming back from his knee injury. Few corners boast Ramsey’s superior blend of coverage and run-defense skills, which could make him an excellent safety when the time comes. However, a potential position change is still a few years away.
20) Laremy Tunsil, OT, Houston Texans (40th Overall)
The Houston Texans’ offensive line dealt with myriad injuries in 2023, and Laremy Tunsil wasn’t immune, as he only started 14 games. But the veteran left tackle was an elite pass blocker in his appearances, consistently shutting down opposing pass rushers and keeping Stroud upright.
Tunsil has somehow never earned a first or second-team All-Pro berth.
21) Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals (44th Overall)
Trey Hendrickson still seems to be underrated despite tying for second with 17.5 sacks in 2023. He ranks fifth in sacks since signing with the Bengals in 2021, trailing only Watt, Garrett, Bosa, and Parsons.
Hendrickson is sixth in quarterback hits during the same span, behind just that group and Crosby. He’s the most talented player on a Cincinnati defense that has to bounce back in 2024.
22) Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (47th Overall)
With L’Jarius Sneed playing boundary corner in 2023, the Chiefs primarily deployed Trent McDuffie in the slot. He was lethal from the inside and was critical in Kansas City’s Super Bowl win.
McDuffie broke up three passes and executed a perfect fourth-quarter slot blitz against Purdy, enabling the Chiefs to get the ball back. He’s K.C.’s most valuable defender not named Chris Jones.
23) L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Tennessee Titans (50th Overall)
One of the more versatile corners in the NFL, L’Jarius Sneed spent most of his time in the slot early in his Chiefs career before playing almost every snap on the perimeter in 2023.
The transition took, as Sneed didn’t allow a receiving touchdown in his coverage area until the Buffalo Bills’ Khalil Shakir scored on him in the Divisional Round. Can he remain a lockdown CB1 after joining the Tennessee Titans?
24) Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers (51st Overall)
Justin Herbert hasn’t achieved the same level of team success as other quarterbacks on this list, but he’s been a high-end passer in his own right – despite the Los Angeles Chargers failing to optimize his offensive environment.
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Herbert posted a 60+ QBR in all four of his pro campaigns, setting a career-high 70.9 mark in 2021. One of the most physically talented QBs in the NFL, Herbert should finally get his flowers if and when the Chargers start winning games under Jim Harbaugh.
25) Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens (53rd Overall)
Here’s how productive Mark Andrews has been over the past five seasons: Despite missing the back half of the 2023 campaign with injuries, Andrews still ranks second among tight ends in targets (513), receptions (347), yards (4,305), first downs (231), and touchdowns (37) since 2019.
Working as Jackson’s de facto No. 1 receiving option in Baltimore, Andrews should be in for another dominant season in 2024.
26) Josh Hines-Allen, EDGE, Jacksonville Jaguars (54th Overall)
Josh Allen ranked second in the league with 17.5 sacks, and his underlying metrics supported his production. He hit opposing quarterbacks 33 times while ranking third among edge defenders in pressure rate (19.6%) and eighth in pass-rush win rate (19.7%), according to Sports Info Solutions and PFF.
The Jacksonville Jaguars finally committed to the former first-round pick with a long-term extension this offseason.
27) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (57th Overall)
Minkah Fitzpatrick is coming off his least productive season as a pro, but injuries were largely to blame for his down year. Provided Fitzpatrick stays healthy next year, the 27-year-old should return to his elite level of play. He has a nose for the football, but his coverage consistency is that of an elite free safety.
Fitzpatrick boasts the length, range, and trigger to cover serious ground on the back end, and he’s not afraid to come forward and hit, either.
28) Joe Thuney, G, Kansas City Chiefs (60th Overall)
Although the Chiefs’ offensive tackles struggled in 2023, the club’s interior line remained strong.
Joe Thuney’s 99% pass block win rate ranked first among guards, and he was only penalized twice on more than 1,000 snaps (neither was accepted). Mahomes is excellent at avoiding pressure, but having a guard like Thuney up front helps.
29) Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs (61st Overall)
Thuney isn’t the only brute force helping to protect Mahomes in Kansas City. Creed Humphrey, a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2022, is arguably the NFL’s best center now that Jason Kelce has retired. He could become the league’s highest-paid pivot, but center contracts are so stagnant that Humphrey may only land $14 million annually.
30) Justin Madubuike, DT, Baltimore Ravens (63rd Overall)
Generating pressure up the middle is a priority for NFL defenses, and Justin Madubuike is one of the best gap shooters in the game. He was an interior terror for the Ravens last season, setting career highs with 13 sacks and 33 QB hits.
Baltimore franchised the former third-round pick in March before making him the NFL’s third-highest-paid DT on a four-year extension.
31) Quincy Williams, LB, New York Jets (65th Overall)
Quincy Williams has transformed into a Pro Bowl linebacker since joining the Jets as a 2021 waiver claim.
In 2023, Williams led the NFL with 80 defensive stops, but he wasn’t a pure run-stopping linebacker. He also finished second among linebackers in pass breakups (10) and played the third-most LB snaps from the slot.
32) Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins (66th Overall)
Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in yards per attempt (8.9) and touchdown rate (6.3%) in 2022 and paced the league in passing yards (4,624) in 2023. His statistics suggest an MVP candidate who should comfortably rate among the NFL’s highest-paid players.
Tua is undoubtedly aided by Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s dynamic scheme and the presence of superstar wideouts like Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but Miami doesn’t have many alternate paths to a quarterback upgrade.
33) Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers (68th Overall)
Talk about turning back the clock. After averaging just eight sacks per season from 2019 through 2022, aged pass rusher Khalil Mack racked up 17 sacks for the Chargers in 2023 while playing solid run defense.
He’ll be 33 next year, but Mack’s production wasn’t a fluke, as he ranked ninth in pass-rush win rate.
34) Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens (69th Overall)
While Derrick Henry has played exclusively in the AFC South, he already feels like an AFC North type of running back. He’s led the league in rushing attempts four times in the last five years, including in 2023.
Capable of true brute force, Henry has managed double-digit touchdowns six times and crossed 1,000 yards in five seasons. In 2020, he topped 2,000 yards, led the league in rushing TDs (17), won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award, and earned a first-team All-Pro nod.
35) Christian Wilkins, DT, Las Vegas Raiders (70th)
Christian Wilkins had always been a productive player heading into 2023, but he stepped up his game in his fifth NFL campaign.
The former first-round pick posted 11.5 sacks and 27 QB hits from 2019 to 2022 — Wilkins put up nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2023 alone. The Raiders liked what they saw and made Wilkins the NFL’s second-highest-paid DT this offseason.
36) Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Houston Texans (71st Overall)
Although he just finished his eighth NFL season, Danielle Hunter entered the league at such a young age that he’s only 29. That still makes him one of the elder statesmen on a revamped Texans defense that includes reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.
Hunter undoubtedly overperformed his underlying metrics en route to a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2023 but still finished ninth among edge rushers in pass-rush win rate while posting a 12% pressure rate.
37) Matt Milano, LB, Buffalo Bills (73rd Overall)
The NFL’s poster child for safety-to-linebacker converts, Matt Milano has always been a solid coverage defender because of his defensive back history. The Bills LB earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022 after posting 99 tackles, three interceptions, and 11 pass breakups.
Milano should be ready to return in Week 1 after suffering a season-ending leg fracture last October.
38) Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins (77th Overall)
Despite battling injuries in 2023, Jaylen Waddle still went over 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight season and ranked eighth in the NFL with 2.52 yards per route run.
He’s been overshadowed by Hill in Miami, but the elder Dolphins wideout turned 30 in March. Waddle, who led the league with 18.1 yards per catch in 2022, could see an increased target share as Hill ages.
39) Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins (79th Overall)
Jevon Holland might have given us the most comical play from the 2023 NFL season when he intercepted Jets QB Tim Boyle’s end-of-half Hail Mary attempt and returned it for a 99-yard touchdown.
That was Holland’s first pick-six and fifth interception of his career, but that ball production understates his ability as a center-field safety. Set to play in his third scheme in as many seasons under new Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Holland needs to stay healthy after missing five complete games and parts of others with knee issues in 2023.
40) Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets (80th Overall)
Trying to predict how Aaron Rodgers will perform in 2024 is almost impossible. While he won back-to-back MVPs as recently as 2020 and 2021, Rodgers is now 40 years old, coming off a torn Achilles, and still trying to get his New York Jets stint off the ground.
The talent is probably still there, but Rodgers’s myriad question marks – punctuated by his mercurial personality and odd offseason – make the legendary QB a total mystery.
41) Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans (81st Overall)
Although he missed the final five games of the 2023 season with a knee injury and ended the year with just 5.5 sacks, Jeffery Simmons remains one of the NFL’s most fearsome interior defenders.
A bully on the interior, Simmons earned back-to-back second-team All-Pro nods for the Titans in 2021 and 2022.
42) Tyron Smith, OT, New York Jets (84th Overall)
Injuries have always been an issue for the 33-year-old Tyron Smith, who hasn’t completed a full slate of games since the 2016 campaign.
However, he’s typically excellent when available. Smith handled 1-on-1 pass-blocking situations on 84.5% of his snaps last season, the third-highest among left tackles, per Next Gen Stats. His 6.7% pressure rate allowed on those snaps was the best mark in the NFL.
43) Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (86th Overall)
Health is the only reason Nick Chubb isn’t ranked higher. He suffered a gruesome knee injury last September, tearing his ACL and damaging his ACL, and seems unlikely to be available for Week 1. How quickly can Chubb recover and return to the field?
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Chubb, 28, topped 1,000 rushing yards and exceeded five yards per carry every season from 2019 to 2022. He earned Pro Bowl nods each year during that stretch and a second-team All-Pro berth in 2022.
44) Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans (87th Overall)
Stefon Diggs’ 2023 statistics were undoubtedly concerning. He posted his fewest yards (1,183) and yards per reception (11.1) since 2018, his second-to-last season with the Vikings. Diggs went from seventh to 31st in yards per route run from 2022 to 2023; he slipped from fourth to 67th in ESPN’s tracking metrics.
The Texans, perhaps knowing they needed to motivate the four-time Pro Bowler, altered Diggs’ contract upon acquiring him this offseason, ensuring he’ll become a free agent next spring. With a chance at one more significant payday on the horizon, Diggs should be locked in.
45) Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (92nd Overall)
While Trevor Lawrence hasn’t necessarily turned into the generational quarterback he was billed as in 2021, he ranks 12th in adjusted net yards per attempt and 14th in EPA + CPOE composite over the past two seasons after being mercifully released from Urban Meyer’s vice grip.
Injuries hindered Lawrence down the 2023 stretch and eventually kept the Jaguars out of the playoffs. He still has all the traits of a high-end NFL QB, but Lawrence has to become more consistent on a down-by-down basis and limit turnovers to reach his full potential.
46) Christian Barmore, DT, New England Patriots (94th Overall)
Always a dependable interior presence, Christian Barmore broke out with a career year in 2023, setting new highs in sacks (8.5), tackles (64), tackles for loss (13), and QB hits (16).
He’s still ascending and could emerge as an even more dominant force in his fourth NFL season. The New England Patriots saw enough to hand Barmore a four-year, $84 million extension in April.
47) Rashawn Slater, OT, Los Angeles Chargers (95th Overall)
The Harbaugh-led Chargers plan to build through their offensive line – left tackle Rashawn Slater and rookie right tackle Joe Alt will be the faces of that effort. Slater has sandwiched two elite campaigns around an injury-ridden 2022 campaign.
Although he’s undersized at 6’4” and 315 pounds, Slater’s flawless technique allows him to hold up despite his physical limitations.
48) Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland Browns (97th Overall)
The No. 4 overall pick in 2018, Denzel Ward was one of the more consistent players for what became an uber-elite Cleveland Browns defense under coordinator Jim Schwartz.
While Ward missed time with a shoulder injury, he still made his third career Pro Bowl after allowing a 56.2 passer rating and one touchdown on 66 targets. Run defense isn’t the most essential trait for an NFL corner, but Ward looked better in that area after struggling with tackling in 2022.
49) Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers (98th Overall)
Cameron Heyward finally showed signs of aging in 2023, as he missed six games and posted just two sacks, his fewest since 2012.
However, when healthy, the 35-year-old is still an effective pass rusher and stout against the run. Heyward totaled 20.5 sacks from 2021 to 2022 and has earned four All-Pro nods since 2017.
50) Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens (99th Overall)
The Ravens lost 60% of their starting offensive line over the offseason, making center Tyler Linderbaum all the more critical as the club considers its 2024 front-five plans.
Already a strong run blocker during his 2022 rookie campaign, Linderbaum improved as a pass protector last year, helping Jackson win his second MVP. With two new guards and a rookie right tackle in the cards for Baltimore next season, Linderbaum is the glue of the team’s OL.
51 DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts (100th Overall)
One of the most effective interior defenders of his generation, DeForest Buckner put up 52 sacks over the past five seasons; only Aaron Donald had more among DTs.
Buckner, Myles Garrett, and Chris Jones are the NFL’s only players with at least seven sacks in each of the last six years. Buckner also led all defenders with seven batted passes in 2023.